Explained : Satras hold doors open for blessings, not politics | Guwahati News and Its Impact

Majuli: In the land of satras and the seat of neo-Vaishnavism, when it comes to elections, voters take their pick without the influence of appeals and promises, and the flurry of roaring campaigns.In Majuli, voters mostly make their choices independently — drawing a clear line dividing the spiritual authority of satras from political allegiance. The age-old tradition of these 16th-17th century religious and spiritual institutions bars political parties from entering satras to seek votes from satradhikars (pontiffs) and bhakats (monks) of the satras, who play a significant role in the lives of the people of Majuli.Life here is shaped by Vaishnavite culture and nurtured by satras. Political parties tread carefully, never daring to carry their political ideologies into the monasteries.“Candidates and political leaders come to our satra to seek blessings for their victory, not for votes. I have been a witness to all elections post-independence. Satras were never allowed to be used for politics or political gains. Candidates silently come to satras, seek blessings and leave,” said 103-year-old burha bhakat (senior monk) Padmashree Gopiram Borgayan of the Sri Sri Uttar Kamalabari Satra, one of the six principal satras in the district.Sitting BJP MLA Bhuban Gam and Congress’s Indraneel Pegu will face each other in the battle of ballots for the Majuli seat. However, the satras and their surroundings remain free from banners and posters advocating for candidates or political parties.Jadab Borah, assistant professor and researcher at Dibrugarh University, said despite maintaining distance from electoral politics, Satras always wish for political leaders to remain in the path of truth, honesty and want them to be efficient. “The satra system binds candidates in a way that forces them to think twice before doing something immoral,” he added.The satradhikars influence every aspect of social life — from festivals to community norms. However, they have cautioned politicians to stay away from dragging satras into politics, now or ever in the future. For any heavyweight political leader or election candidate, a visit to the Sri Sri Auniati Satra is a must. However, satradhikar Pitambar Deva Goswami said, “We are not associated with any political party. We bless whoever comes to our Satras.”“Satras have their own discipline, which can not be breached by politics. Nevertheless, when politics is needed to run administration, we need to cast our votes. But both the dharma of satras and the dharma of democracy have to be maintained,” Goswami added.While satras do not take a collective decision in regard to elections, satradhikars never miss out on exercising their franchise.“No politician ever requests our help in elections. They know that satras maintain neutrality at all costs. We can not take sides,” said Maniram Borgayan, another senior monk of Uttar Kamalabari Satra.